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Pope at Regina Coeli: Risen Jesus dispels our fears and unbelief

At the Regina Coeli prayer on Divine Mercy Sunday, Pope Francis says the Risen Jesus wishes to return to stay with us and only waits for us to seek Him, since He is always ready to help us overcome our fears and unbelief.

By Thaddeus Jones

Pope Francis led the midday recitation of the Regina Coeli prayer in St. Peter's Square with forty thousand pilgrims onhand on this Divine Mercy Sunday.

The Pope participated and gave the homily at the morning Mass that took place earlier in the Basilica with the presence of 8,500 faithful, including around 300 Missionaries of Mercy called to Rome for the weekend.

 

Speaking to the crowds from the Apostolic Palace study window overlooking the square, the Pope recalled the day's Gospel that speaks about the first and second apparition of the Risen Jesus to the disciples in the Upper Room. He focused on the Apostle Thomas and Jesus.

Thomas as one of us

Recalling how the Apostle Thomas was not present when the Lord first appeared and would not believe the Lord had really risen until his firsthand witness of the second appearance eight days later later, the Pope pointed out how Thomas represents us all. We too struggle at times like the disciple wishing to actually see the Lord or seeking a concrete sign of the Lord's presence and love.

We should not be ashamed of our doubts, the Pope added, as the story of Thomas teaches us that "the Lord is not looking for perfect Christians who never doubt and always flaunt a steadfast faith."

The "adventure of faith" is marked by "lights and shadows," the Pope explained, whether moments of comfort and zeal, or weariness and doubt. 

“The Gospel shows us Thomas’ “crisis” to tell us that we should not fear the crises of life and faith.”

A healthy crisis in our faith life can humble us, the Pope said, and help us see that we need God and must seek Him always, like Thomas did in touching the Lord's wounds and experiencing His love anew. 

“It is better to have an imperfect but humble faith that always returns to Jesus, than a strong but presumptuous faith that makes us proud and arrogant.”

Jesus does not give up

Pope Francis recalled how Jesus appeared twice to the disciples - once and then again eight days later - showing how the Lord does not give up on us or become tired of us due to our doubts and weaknesses.

Even with the doors closed, the Lord returns to us to help dispel our fears and doubts, and allows us to see His wounds, "signs of His love that has espoused our frailties." 

Seek the Risen Jesus

In order to overcome our moments of weariness and crisis, we need to be reassured that the "the Risen Jesus wishes to return to stay with us," and only waits for us to seek him, to call upon him, even to express like Thomas our doubts or unbelief so He may help us overcome them with His patient and merciful love. 

“Let us promise ourselves the next time, in our fatigue, to seek Jesus, to return to Him, to His forgiveness, to those wounds that have healed us. In this way, we will also become capable of compassion, of approaching the wounds of others without inflexibility and without prejudice.”

In conclusion, the Pope prayed that Our Lady, Mother of Mercy, may accompany us on the journey of faith and love.

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24 April 2022, 12:15

What is the Regina Coeli?

The antiphon Regina Coeli (“Queen of Heaven”) is one of four traditional Marian antiphons, the others being Alma Redemptoris Mater, Ave Regina Coelorum, and Salve Regina.

It was Pope Benedict XIV who, in 1742, enjoined the recitation of the Regina Coeli in place of the Angelus during Eastertide, that is, from Easter Sunday to the end of Pentecost. It is recited standing as a sign of Christ’s victory over death.

Like the Angelus, the Regina Coeli is said three times a day, at dawn, at noon, and at dusk, in order to consecrate the day to God and the Virgin Mary.

This ancient antiphon arose, according to a pious tradition, in the 6th century; it is attested in documentary sources from the first half of the 13th century, when it was inserted in the Franciscan breviary. It is composed of four short verses, each ending with an “alleluia.” With the Regina Coeli, the faithful turn to Mary, the Queen of Heaven, to rejoice with her at the Resurrection of Christ.

At the Regina Coeli on Easter Monday of 2015, Pope Francis spoke about the spiritual dispositions that should animate the faithful as they recite this Marian prayer:

“In this prayer, expressed by the Alleluia, we turn to Mary inviting her to rejoice, because the One whom she carried in her womb is Risen as He promised, and we entrust ourselves to her intercession. In fact, our joy is a reflection of Mary’s joy, for it is she who guarded and guards with faith the events of Jesus. Let us therefore recite this prayer with the emotion of children who are happy because their mother is happy.”

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Pray with the Pope

Regina Coeli

Regina coeli, laetare, alleluia.
Quia quem meruisti portare, alleluia.
Resurrexit, sicut dixit, alleluia.
Ora pro nobis Deum, alleluia.

V. Gaude et laetare, Virgo Maria, alleluia.
R. Quia surrexit Dominus vere, alleluia.

Oremus:

Deus, qui per resurrectionem Filii tui Domini nostri Iesu Christi mundum laetificare dignatus es, praesta, quaesumus, ut per eius Genetricem Virginem Mariam perpetuae capiamus gaudia vitae.
Per eundem Christum Dominum nostrum. Amen.

Regina Coeli 

Queen of heaven, rejoice, alleluia.

The Son whom you merited to bear, alleluia,
has risen as he said, alleluia.
Rejoice and be glad, O Virgin Mary, alleluia!
For the Lord has truly risen, alleluia.

Let us pray

O God, who through the resurrection of your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, did vouchsafe to give joy to the world; grant, we beseech you, that through his Mother, the Virgin Mary, we may obtain the joys of everlasting life. Through the same Christ our Lord.

Amen.